Anti-tip device



y 3 1967 J. w BARNSTEAD ETAL.

ANTI-TIP DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 25, 1966 'INVENTORS :romuw. BARNSTEAD BRQBERT c. BY

F'l-G.

PRESSLEY. 'J'R.

United States Patent 3,322,480 ANTI-TIP DEVICE John W. Barnstead,Brazil, Ind., and Robert C. Pressley,

Jr., Louisville, Ky., assignors to General Electric Company, acorporation of New York Filed Apr. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 545,013 Claims.(Cl. 312-276) This invention relates to a means for preventingaccidental tip-over of a free-standing structure such as, for example, aportable home appliance.

Many free-standing structures, particularly in the field of homeappliances, are provided with access openings in a side wall and aclosure member, or door, for the access opening. Most often the door ishinged at its bottom edge and pivots substantially 90 to an essentiallyhorizontal open position. When in the open position, the door may be ata height from several inches to a foot above floor level. This heightmakes it possible for even a small child to climb or sit upon the door.The weight of the child may be sufficient to shift the center of gravityof the appliance to an extent whereupon the structure will tip over.This obviously could result in damage to the appliance and, moreimportantly, seriously injury to the child.

Tip-over may also be caused by setting upon the open door objects whichare to be eventually inserted into the appliance. The problem oftip-over is not limited to an arrangement wherein the door opens to ahorizontal position since a child may attempt to swing on averticallyhinged door. The problem of tip-over could be overcome bysecuring the appliance to the floor or other solid structure; however,there are many occasions when it is either impossible or undesirable tosecure the appliance in such a manner. For example, one would not wantto secure a portable appliance in such a manner since this would defeatits portability. Tip-over could also be minimized by extendingoutrigging from the cabinet; however, this would result in excessiveconsumption of floor space when the appliance is not in use and wouldpresent an unattractive appearance. It therefore would be desirable toprovide, in a free-standing or portable structure having a door in itsside wall, anti-tip means to prevent tip-over of the structure withoutexcessive consumption of floor space when the machine is not in use.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedanti-tip device for a free-standing structure.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved anti-tipdevice for a free-standing structure which does not consume unnecessaryfloor space when not in use.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved anti-tipdevice particularly adapted for use with a free-standing structurehaving a closure member.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improvedanti-tip device for a free-standing structure having a closure memberwhich operates automatically upon opening of the closure member.

Briefly stated, in accordance with one aspect of the invention, weprovide a cabinet structure with a closure member in one side wallmovable from a closed position .to an open position. A track is carriedby the cabinet and an anti-tip arm is provided with means at one end tomove along the track. The anti-tip arm is movable from a retracted,position to a tip-preventing position. At least one link is pivotallyinterconnected between the anti-tip arm and the cabinet. Means areprovided to interconnect the link and the closure member to pivot thelink as the closure member is moved whereby the anti-tip arm is moved totip-preventing position upon opening of the closure member.

While the specification concludes with claims partic ularly pointing outand distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as theinvention, it is believed the invention will be better understood fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partially cut away to show details,of a free-standing cabinet structure incorporating the presentinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary elevational view, cut away to show details, ofthe free-standing cabinet structure of FIGURE 1 with the closure memberopen and the antitip arm in the tip-preventing position;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, showing a second embodiment ofthe present invention, with the closure member closed and the anti-tiparm in the retracted position; and

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 showing the embodiment of FIGURE3 with the anti-tip arm in the tip-preventing position.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGURE 1, there isillustrated a portable dishwasher 10 having an outer cabinet 11 providedwith a closure member or door 12 in one side wall thereof. It should benoted at the outset that the present invention is not limited in itsapplication to a dishwasher but, as pointed out above, may be employedwith any free-standing or portable cabinet structure. The application ofthe present invention in a portable dishwasher is for purposes ofillustration only.

Disposed within the cabinet 11 are dish racks 13 and 14 and water sprayapparatus 15. Dish racks .13 and 14 and water spray apparatus 15 may beconventional in form and, since they do not form a material part of thepresent invention, their structure and function will not be discussed indetail. The door 12 is pivotal about point 16 adjacent its bottom edge.Point 16 defines the interconnection between the door 12 and the cabinet11 since a bracket 17 is rigidly secured to cabinet 11.

In accordance with the present invention, we provide means to preventtip-over of the cabinet structure which is automatically operative uponopening of the door 12. Referring now particularly to FIGURE 2, there isprovided an anti-tip arm .18 which, when in the position shown in FIGURE2, serves to prevent tip-over of the cabinet structure. Anti-tip arm 18has a roller 19 rotatably secured at one end thereof. Roller 19 isdisposed within a track 20 which is rigidly secured to the cabinetstructure. Track 20 has an upper element 21 and a lower element 22 whichare spaced from each other a distance slightly greater than the diameterof roller 19 so that roller 19 may easily move along track 20. A link 23is pivotally secured at one end to anti-tip arm 18 by means of a pin 24and, at its other end, to the cabinet structure by means of a pin 25. Atoothed element or gear segment 26 is rigidly secured to link 23 topivot about pin 25 with link 23.

Gear segment 26 is intermeshed with a second toothed element or gearsegment 27 which is rigidly secured to door 12 to pivot about point 16.

With the foregoing arrangement, as door 12 is pivoted from the positionillustrated in FIGURE 1 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2, gearsegment 27 pivots with the door and, because it is intermeshed with gearsegment 26, pivots gear segment 26 and link 23 until link 23 assumes theposition illustrated in FIGURE 2. Because link 23 is pivotally connectedto anti-tip arm 18 by means of pin 24, anti-tip arm 18 is simultaneouslypivoted and moved along track 20 during the pivoting of link 23. Oncedoor 12 is in the position illustrated in FIGURE 2, any external forceapplied downwardly on door 12 such as, for example, if a small childshould climb upon door 12, the forces transmitted through theabove-described system would tend to urge anti-tip arm 18 intoengagement with the surface 28 upon which dishwasher 10 is resting.

Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 4, a second embodiment of the presentinvention is illustrated. This embodiment includes several elementssubstantially identical to those described above with regard to theembodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2. Accordingly, these elements have beengiven identical reference numerals and will not be discussed againexcept to the extent necessary to explain operation of this embodiment.In the embodiment of FIG URES 3 and 4, anti-tip arm 18 has a pin 29which pivotally interconnects arm 18 and a link 30 in a manner similarto the interconnection between arm 18 and link 23 in the embodiment ofFIGURES 1 and 2. The other end of link 30 is pivotally interconnected toa bracket 31, rigid with door 12, by means of a pin 32. A second link 33is pivotally interconnected at one end with link 30 by means of a pin 34and at the other end is pivotally interconnected with the cabinetstructure by means of a pin 35.

With the afore-described arrangement, as door 12 is initially pivotedfrom the closed position as illustrated in FIGURE 3, bracket 31 pivotsinwardly toward the dishwasher cabinet moving link 30 and arm 18 to theright as viewed in FIGURE 3. As link 30 moves to the right, link 33pivots about pin 35 forcing link 30 downwardly about pin 32. As link 30is forced downwardly, arm 18 is also forced downwardly due to theinterconnection at pin 29. As door 12 is pivoted further, link 30 pivotsabout pin 34, forcing arm 18 downwardly and causing roller 19 to sliderelative to track 20. This movement continues until door 12 reaches thefull open position as illustrated in FIG- URE 4 whereupon link 30assumes a substantially vertical disposition and arm 18 is moved intotip-preventing position relative to the surface 28 upon which thedishwasher rests.

It is to be understood that in each of the embodiments described herein,anti-tip arm 18 and all of its associated hardware may be duplicated onthe opposite side of cabinet 11 so that there will be two anti-tip arms18 moved into tip-preventing position as door 12 is opened. Also, ifdesired, adjustable screws or feet may be provided at the free end ofeach anti-tip arm 18 to compensate for irregularities in the surfaceupon which the dishwasher rests.

As will be evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects ofthe invention are not limited to the particular details of constructionof the examples illustrated, and it is contemplated that various othermodifications or applications will occur to those skilled in the art. Itis therefore intended that the appended claims shall cover suchmodifications and applications as do not depart from the true spirit andscope of the invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. A free-standing structure comprising:

(a) a cabinet,

(b) a closure member in one side wall of said cabinet movable from aclosed position to an open position,

() a track carried by said cabinet,

(d) an anti-tip arm having means at one end to move along said track,

(e) said anti-tip arm being movable to a tip-preventing position,

(f) at least one link pivotally interconnecting said antitip arm andsaid cabinet, and

(g) means interconnecting said link and said closure member to pivotsaid link as said closure member is moved whereby said anti-tip arm ismoved to said tip-preventing position upon opening of said closuremember.

2. A free-standing structure comprising:

(a) a cabinet,

(b) a closure member in one side wall of said cabinet movable from aclosed position to an open position,

(c) a track carried by said cabinet,

(d) an anti-tip arm having means at one end to move along said track,

(e) said anti-tip arm being movable to a tip-preventing position,

(f) a link pivotally connected at a first end to said anti-tip arm at apoint spaced from said means and pivotally connected at a second end tosaid cabinet,

(g) a first toothed element carried by said closure member, and

(h) a second toothed element carried by said link adjacent said secondend of said link,

(i) said first toothed element and said second toothed element beingintermeshed to pivot said link as said closure member is moved wherebysaid anti-tip arm is moved to said tip-preventing position upon openingof said closure member.

3. A free-standing structure comprising:

(a) a cabinet,

(b) a closure member in one wall of said cabinet pivotal about asubstantially horizontal axis between a closed position and an openposition,

(c) an anti-tip arm movable relative to said cabinet from a retractedposition to a tip-preventing position,

(d) a link pivotally interconnecting said anti-tip arm and said cabinet,

(e) a first circular toothed element carried by said closure member withthe center of said element being on said substantially horizontal axis,and

(f) a second toothed element carried by said link,

(g) said first toothed element and said second toothed element beingintermeshed to pivot said link as said closure member is moved wherebysaid anti-tip arm is moved to said tip-preventing position upon openingof said closure member.

4. A free-standing structure comprising:

(a) a cabinet,

(b) a closure member in one side wall of said cabinet movable from aclosed position to an open position,

(c) a track carried by said cabinet,

(d) an anti-tip arm having means at one end to move along said track,

(e) said anti-tip arm being movable to a tip-preventing position,

(f) a first link pivotally connected at one end to said anti-tip arm ata point spaced from said means and pivotally connected at its other endto said closure member, and

(g) a second link pivotally connected at one end to said cabinet and atits other end to said first link at a point intermediate the ends ofsaid first link,

(h) said first link and said second link moving upon movement of saidclosure member to said open position to move said anti-tip arm to saidtip-preventing position.

5. A free-standing structure comprising:

(a) a cabinet,

(b) a closure member in one wall of said cabinet pivotal about asubstantially horizontal axis between a closed position and an openposition,

(c) an anti-tip arm movable relative to said cabinet from a retractedposition to a tip-preventing position,

(d) a first link pivotally connected at one end to said anti-tip arm andpivotally connected at its other end to said closure member, and

(e) a second link pivotally connected at one end to said cabinet and atits other end to said first link at a point intermediate the ends ofsaid first link,

(f) said first link and said second link moving upon movement of saidclosure member to said open position to move said anti-tip arm to saidtip-preventing position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Sintz 2-80-6'.11 Sperlich 312284Ferris 312-284 X Karoff 31 2-271 Kitsopoulos 297-270 Kendt et a1 3l2276Payton et a1. 312276 DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner. JAMES T.McCALL, Examiner.

1. A FREE-STANDING STRUCTURE COMPRISING: (A) A CABINET, (B) A CLOSUREMEMBER IN ONE SIDE WALL OF SAID CABINET MOVABLE FROM A CLOSED POSITIONTO AN OPEN POSITION, (C) A TRACK CARRIED BY SAID CABINET, (D) ANANTI-TIP ARM HAVING MEANS AT ONE END TO MOVE ALONG SAID TRACK, (E) SAIDANTI-TIP ARM BEING MOVABLE TO A TIP-PREVENTING POSITION,